Child's Play 17

The unusual laughter of Pitch Black made North's shoulders tense. He couldn't quite see what was so funny. Toddler Jack was gone and while he loved the fact that teen Jack was back he could shake the tenseness in his heart or his anger at Manny for putting them all through this. It wasn't a time for laughing but for answers. He glared at the two dreamweavers as they entered the globe room but quickly averted his gaze when he realized that neither had any clue what was going on. Pitch and Sandy had only just returned from their tussle at the stream and both looked as if they rolled around in the mud. The tiniest smirk tugged at North's lips. The two were getting along far better than anyone would ever have thought given their history. He wasn't quite sure how to break the news of Jack's change to them. But as usual it was Pitch who picked up on his fear and confusion. He was like a bloodhound when it came to fear.

"Nicholas?" he asked, waving a hand to get Sandy to stop signing for a moment. Golden-silver eyes swept across the room before settling on the Guardian of Wonder. "Where's Jack? You didn't let Bunny take him to the Warren again, did you?"

North to a deep breath to answer but Tooth quickly did so for him. "In his room getting dress," she said, placing a small hand on North's broad shoulder.

Stunned silence filled the room but after a moment Pitch nodded, needing no further explanation. "I see."

Sandy's smile fell for a moment before reappearing. He flew over to North and tapped his shoulder. When the Russian looked up he quickly signed, "We should celebrate Jack's return."

North shook his head. "I don't feel like partying, Sandy." He winced as his friend tapped his forehead and gave Sandy a glare.

"It's not for you, silly, it's for Jack. Like a birthday party."

Tooth gave a nod. "It'll show we missed him even though we loved his smaller self, too."

Pitch shrugged. "It's better than wallowing in self pity."

North stared at him, Pitch was the last person he expected to agree to a party. But still North was hesitant. They had just gotten Jack back to normal. His mind had yet to wrap around that fact yet, he couldn't possibly consider a party right now.

Tooth gave a squeal of delight. "You won't even have to lift a finger," she said, smiling brightly at him. "I'll talk to Doris and get everything arranged with the yetis. We'll have all Jack's favorite foods and music and...oh, this will be great!"

"What will?" Jack asked as he padded into the Globe room. For several moments everyone just stared at him, some in shock to see the teenager. North gave him a sad smile, still seeing the toddler in the teen. Jack ran a hand through his hair and scuffed his right foot against the floor. "Yeah, I know, I'm big again. Sorry about the last few weeks. It wasn't really my idea. I just...I guess I'm sorry."

Sandy was the first to fly to him and give him a hug split seconds before Tooth and her mini selves could and reassured him that there was nothing to be sorry for. Nonetheless the boy looked sheepish when he smiled at everyone.

"How much do you remember?" Pitch finally asked, pulling Sandy away from Jack so he could get a good look at the boy. As usual the boy had a poor sense of style but he looked just the same as usual.

Jack shrugged as Tooth held his hand. "Not much," he said honestly. "Just glimpses I suppose. It's all sort of foggy."

"I'll help you...oh no," Tooth gasped, covering her mouth. "Since you aged through magic there's no baby teeth for me to collect and all your other baby teeth are from your past life. I might not be able to recall those memories for you."

Everyone stared at her down hearted by the revelation. Sandy raised his hand. He could help Jack with his memories, it might only be through dreams but he could do it.

Pitch gave Tooth a smirk. "You could always knock one out of his mouth."

She shot him a glare.

"Bah, that's what photographs and home videos are for," North said, a small smile gracing his lips as he pushed past the other to place his large hands on Jack's slim shoulders. "There's not many but you can look at them whenever you wish."

Jack smiled, then his brows creased. "Wait, you guys took pictures and video?"

"Lots of them!" Tooth said happily. Her mini selves nearly fainted. "Enough to wall paper North's study."

"Oh no," Jack moaned.

Pitch snickered. "And use as black mail for many centuries to come."

Jack covered his face. "This sucks. This really, really sucks. Seriously, you're going to use pictures of a defenseless child to black mail me?"

"Or North, or Bunny, or Tooth, even Sandy."

"Hah, we've got enough of you and Jack that you wouldn't even consider it," Tooth retorted. "The two of you asleep in the fort or how about bath time in the stream?"

"Sandy didn't have a camera for that."

"I did."

"You didn't."

"Did too!"

Jack stared at the two in amazement but it was Sandy who carefully extracted him from the two arguing Guardians and gave him a smile. Images flew over his head, making Jack smile. "Yeah, I missed you too, Sandy," he said when they were alone. He looked around. North had backed away from the chaos that was Pitch and Tooth and again looked lost, almost as if he were a kicked puppy trying to distance himself from everyone. "He's not okay with all this," Jack told the Sandman. "I wish..." He shook his head, knowing that there was no way for him to change back into a child. He had duties to perform and the children f the world needed him. Nonetheless, if could change things he would have stayed a child and asked MiM to let him grow up like any child would. He took another look around. "Where's Bunny?" he suddenly asked out loud.

Pitch and Tooth stopped bickering and looked at him, even North looked up in surprise.

"I thought he came back here with you two," Pitch said, glancing from Tooth to North.

"He was here when we put Jackie down for a nap," Tooth said, confused.

Jack cringed at the nickname.

North shook his head. "I have not seen him since we returned."

Pitch closed his eyes, reaching out telepathically in hopes of sensing something from the Pooka, that little ounce of fear that Bunny had had since Jack's change but he hit a psychic wall. Bunny was one of the few beings on Earth who could completely block him out when he wished. It was why when Pitch first awoke on Earth he had not known of the Pooka's existence. He had thought the whole race destroyed and even after discovering the Guardian of Hope it was next to impossible to track him. He shielded his Warren far better than any other magic user before him. That fateful Easter back in 2012 Pitch had not been able to attack the Warren head on, he and his Nightmares fought in the tunnels that were not nearly as well protected. No matter how he tried there was no way to bypass Bunny shields.

"I'm guessing the Warren," Pitch finally said, a little confused by the Pooka's behavior. Did he even know Jack was back to normal.

North nodded. "I'll fetch him."

"No," Jack said suddenly, his hand on North's arm to stop him. "I think it might be best if I go. We have a lot to talk about and...you should talk to Manny."

North raised one brow but conceded. But before he would Jack leave he grabbed the boy and gave him another hug, leaning forward to press his forehead against the youth's. "It is good to have you back, Jack."

The ice elf smiled brightly and returned the embrace before stepping back. "So, huh...where's my staff?"

With a gentle smile that still didn't quite reach his eyes, he instructed one of the yetis to get Jack his staff. He still felt out of sorts watching the boy but he knew Jack could fend for himself once again and that took a little tension off his shoulders but not enough. He still wanted his little boy back but at least he knew that Jack would be okay now. But now it was time to face Manny and find out exactly what this was all about. People didn't turn into children for no reason, especially Guardians. He also hoped that now that Jack was back to normal maybe he and Bunny could work through their problems.